Holiday overview

Anyone who loves Gilbert and Sullivan will enjoy this amazing festival, based in the elegant spa town of Harrogate. Our expert leader will put each production into context in the morning, leaving you free in the afternoon to explore the local area independently.

The 7-night holiday includes tickets to five productions, the 3-night holiday includes tickets to two productions and the 4-night holiday includes tickets to three productions.

Holiday highlights

Enjoy the music of Gilbert & Sullivan with a group of like-minded people

Enhance your experience with recorded music illustrations from our expert leader

Free time each afternoon to explore the local area independently or relax in the Country House

Price includes

High quality Full Board en-suite accommodation and excellent food in our Country House

The services of our knowledgeable HF Holidays’ leader, ensuring you get the most from your holiday

Coach transport to and from the festival

Good quality tickets for performances and festival sessions

Illustrated talks from your HF Holidays’ leader

Accommodation

Retaining its 19th century grandeur Newfield Hall is our most stately country house. With excellent accommodation and facilities, it's a popular location for walking and leisure activity holidays.

Newfield Hall has 48 bedrooms located either in the main building or in the tastefully converted coach house.

Choose your room

Classic Rooms• Check in from 2:30pm• Comfortable accommodation • En-suite bathroom with bath or shower• 23 inch TV• Hairdryer• Tea and coffee-making facilities• Double or two single beds• Toiletries• Single rooms are available at no extra charge

Facilities

• Multi-purpose activity room • Range of board games and books• Free WiFi is available in some public rooms • Heated indoor swimming pool

• Extensive gardens with views of the Yorkshire Dales • Outside there is a walled garden and putting green• Mini-golf

Dining

All holidays at our Country Houses are full board accommodation including evening meal on arrival to breakfast on the day of your departure. All of our Country Houses have a well-stocked bar serving local beers, wine and spirits.

√Start your day with our extensive breakfast.√ Take your fill from our famous self-service picnic lunches√ A relaxed social dinner is a highlight of any stay at our Country Houses

Your evenings

Just relax and take it easy, or if you'd like to continue to chat with our guides and fellow guests then why not grab a drink or take part in one of our optional evening activities.

All of our bars are stocked with locally sourced drinks so you can really soak up your surroundings.

Accessibility

Newfield Hall is fully accessible to wheelchair users and has a bedroom specifically designed for wheelchair access.

Fire procedure is displayed in each room and explained to guests on arrival. Guests requiring assistance at an evacuation are identified at this time and door hanger cards are issued

Mobile phone reception is generally good from the main building

Assistance dogs accompanying visually or hearing impaired guests are welcome; dogs must be kept on a lead or harness at all times

Information can be provided in large print

Staff have received disability awareness training

Special diets can be catered for. Specialist food can be obtained with prior notice

Hired equipment can be arranged for your stay with prior notice

Fridge for medication can be supplied

Itinerary

These are the productions we’re seeing in 2018 at the Royal Hall, Harrogate. We'll also have pre-show talks in the house and we'll pop full timing details up here shortly.

Friday 10 August: Arrival day

Saturday 11 August: Ruddigore

7.30pm

National G&S Opera Company

Sunday 12 August: Trial by Jury & The Sorcerer

2.30pm

Monday 13 August: Free day

If you’d like to travel and book independently for the free day production of Iolanthe by the Savoy Company, Philadelphia (USA), please contact the festival organisers directly at http://www.gsfestivals.org/whats-on/

Tuesday 14 August: The Gondoliers

7.30pm

Wednesday 15 August: Ruddigore

7.30pm

Cape Town G&S Society, SA

NB: This is different production to the Saturday’s performance – what a great way to compare companies’ interpretations.

Thursday 16 August: Patience

7.30pm

SavoyNet Performing Group

Friday: Depart (on a high note) after a leisurely breakfast

Sometimes things happen beyond our control – the weather, traffic jams or changes at the places we visit. If we need to adjust your holiday programme, for whatever reason, your leader will help smooth the way.

Local area

Discover the Yorkshire Dales

Newfield Hall sits in rolling open countryside. The nearest village with facilities is Gargrave where there is a pub and shop. The market town of Skipton is about seven miles away. Here you’ll find a full range of facilities including supermarkets, shops, banks, chemists, pubs and cafes.

During your visit to the Newfield Hall you may enjoy visiting the following places of interest:

Malham CoveJust 10 to 15 minutes' drive from Newfield Hall is the dramatic Malham Cove, just one of the iconic limestone sights of the Yorkshire Dales. If you are not visiting the cove as part of your holiday, it's well worth making the short walk from the village.

SkiptonThe market town of Skipton, about 20 minutes' drive from Newfield Hall is a vibrant place to visit. Dominating the the town is its well-preserved medieval castle. www.skiptoncastle.co.uk

Brontë ParsonageVisit the parsonage in Haworth, the home of authors Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë. Many of their most famous works were written here, including Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and the Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Haworth is around 45 minutes' drive from Newfield Hall. www.bronte.org.uk

Keighley and Worth Valley RailwayThis preserved steam railway runs from the centre of Keighley to Oxenhope via the ‘Brontë’ village of Haworth. The line is still well-known as the setting for the 1970 film ‘the Railway Children’ and boasts an impressive selection of steam locomotives. Keighley station is around 35 minutes' drive from Newfield Hall. www.kwvr.co.uk

Settle to Carlisle RailwayRide England’s most scenic railway through the Yorkshire Dales from Hellifield or Settle station. Heading north over the iconic Ribblehead viaduct you could head to the small market town of Appleby, or the border city of Carlisle. www.settle-carlisle.co.uk

Fountains AbbeyThis impressive World Heritage Site contains the dramatic ruins of Fountains Abbey, the largest monastic ruins in the country. There is an exhibition of life in the medieval Abbey. Adjacent to the abbey is Studley Royal water garden – England’s most spectacular Georgian water garden.

White Scar CaveLocated near the village of Ingleton, about 40 minutes' drive from Newfield Hall, White Scar is Britain’s longest show cave. The underground tour reveals spectacular caverns, waterfalls and stalactites. www.whitescarcave.co.uk

RHS Harlow Carr GardenSituated near Harrogate, about 50 minutes' from Newfield Hall, are the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens at Harlow Carr. The gardens have been planted to suit the challenging growing conditions of the north. Wander and enjoy the tranquil surroundings. www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr

Lightwater ValleySet in 175 acres of parkland near Ripon, just over an hour's drive away, Lightwater Valley has big thrill rides including the ‘Ultimate’, the longest rollercoaster in Europe. The park has over 40 rides and is fantastic fun for all the family. www.lightwatervalley.co.uk

Travel

Travel to Malhamdale

By train:

The nearest train station is at Skipton. For train times and general rail enquiries visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 03457 484950 (from outside the UK call +44 20 7278 5240).

HF station transfer - great value!

Our station transfer operates every Friday and Monday between Skipton station and Newfield Hall. The pickup is at 4.10pm from Skipton station. On departure day the transfer will get you back to Skipton station by 9.35am. This transfer costs just £12 return, however a place must be reserved at least 7 days in advance by calling 0345 470 7558.

By taxi:

If you can’t meet our station transfer, the 8½ mile journey from Skipton to Newfield Hall can be made by taxi. pre-booked taxis cost approx £15 per journey. Details of our current recommended taxi company and rates will be sent to you with your booking. The return taxi journey can be arranged on your behalf by the Newfield Hall Manager.

By car:

From the south, follow the A65 from Skipton to Gargrave. Leave the A65 by Eshton Road, signposted to Malham and pass Eshton Hall on the right. Newfield Hall is approx 2½ miles further on, on the right and before the village of Airton. Look out for our sign.

From the north, exit the M6 at junction 36 and take the A65 towards Skipton. In Coniston Cold village take a sharp left into a narrow road between houses, signposted to St Peters Church and Bell Busk and Malham. Pass under a railway viaduct, then after a mile bear right over a small bridge. After a further mile turn right at the junction, cross the narrow bridge then shortly after turn left through the gateway onto the drive of Newfield Hall. Look out for our sign.

Travelling from overseas

There is a local airport at Leeds/Bradford which is served by European flights. From here take the aiport bus to Leeds station, then on by train to Skipton. Alternatively a pre-booked taxi direct to Newfield Hall would cost around £60.

Manchester Airport has a much wider range of long-haul flights. There are direct trains every hour from the airport to Skipton with one change at Leeds. Allow 2 hours to Skipton - see www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times.

Flying to London Heathrow airport is another option, but has a longer onward train journey - allow 4½ hours to reach Skipton. From Heathrow first take the Piccadilly line Underground train to London Kings Cross station. From here take a train to Skipton (1 change at Leeds) - see www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times.

Leaders

Marcus Martin

Marcus Martin studied at piano, organ, singing and general music subjects at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and subsequently obtained an MA degree in Arts Management at City University London. Professionally he has combined a career of teaching, accompanying, conducting, performing and latterly, administration. For many years he taught piano and lectured on academic studies and also has worked extensively in the musical theatre as musical director for amateur and professional productions. For a long time Marcus has been associated with ‘Light Music’. His 35 piece Alassio Concert Orchestra, comprising musicians from the major London orchestras, regularly gives music-lovers a chance to hear the original orchestrations of some of the very best compositions of this genre. He has over 45 years' experience as a church organist and regularly conducts choirs and singing groups of varying sizes.

In 2012 he received an invitation to attend the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May. The citation for this honour was in respect of 25 years of services to music and charities in Worthing - through involvement with amateur and professional choirs and orchestras, work with young performers within the music festival organisation and in particular the raising of a total of £40,000 for various local and national charities during the past 10 years of presenting Morning Melodies.

A brilliant leader, very knowledgeable and competent, good-natured and cheerful.